I’ve previously written about how some Filipinos overreacted (more examples, read the responses as well: 1, 2, 3) at a piece of satire not even aimed at us. It seems everybody including Manong Tambay and one’s local tongressman congressman foamed at the mouth when they read the part about “nation of servants”. The writer, Chip Tsao, was under such pressure from the Philippine  warlords-thieves elected officials that at one point, he was blacklisted from entering the country (since he is not a 50 something white male in search of a 20 something Filipina wife, there’s no reason why he should visit the country).  Not to be outdone, the Filipina workers in Hong Kong staged their own rally to protest Chip Tsao and his employer. There were a couple of things that contributed to the success of  that Hong Kong protest. The Jollibee fast food restaurants were closed that day, and the Wowowee event scheduled to visit the city was postponed. Everything else being equal, having Jollibees nearby and a Wowowee event will lead to Filipinos entering a state of euphoria. Not that day it seems. The angry Filipinas marched and let their voices be heard. Unbeknownst to them, they also proved two things. First, the educational system of the Philippines is of low quality. The people who got angry couldn’t read between the lines. The foolish Filipinos who brag about their Ateneo, De La Salle, and UP degrees (all  useless outside the country) and got angry at Chip demonstrated how dumb they are. Secondly, the “controversy” proved that Filipinos don’t have an indepth grasp of English despite the often cited claim of Filipinos having the best English skillsets in Asia.

The whole event demonstrates that either some Filipinos can’t read between the lines or they love to be part of the herd (pasawsaw). I came across this post made by Joseph Dent in the excellent Indolent Indio that explains the matter to the mangmangs (ignorant) who need to be reeducated in Efren Penaflorida’s mobile classroom.

“My fellow Pinoys, Mr. Chip Tsao is defending Filipinos and Filipino maids and is actually ridiculing these so-called “Chinese patriots”.

When Tessie Tomas pretends to be a rich matrona in “Abangan ang Susunod na Kabanata” and then says outrageous, ridiculous mata pobre things, Tessie Tomas is not really mata pobre, instead, she is exposing the mata pobre of the Filipino upper class. That is how this article works as well: satire. In the article, Mr. Tsao is pretending to be one of these Chinese patriots. He then proceeds to say outrageous, over-the-top, racist statements to show them that the viewpoints of his fellow Chinese citizens are in fact outrageous, over-the-top and racist!

In the first paragraph, he exposes the hypocrisy of the Chinese government when they turn a blind eye on Russia and Japan’s violations (who are big nations), but suddenly become a bully when it comes to the Philippines.

He then exposes what you guys are angry about: that some of his fellow Chinese citizens in fact look down on the Philippines as a “nation of servants”, and that’s why the government is not afraid to bully us. (note Mr. Tsao does not believe we are a nation of servants, he is still playing the part of the proud Chinese patriot)

Now there really is no Louisa. You guys got so angry about how he treated his domestic helper, but she doesn’t really exist. Again, this is still part of the act. When he mentions Louisa has a degree in International Politics and then shows her a map, he is exposing how ridiculous the Chinese are because Mr. Tsao knows that according to the map, the Spratly Islands are in fact close(r) to the the Philippines and according to International Politics, we do in fact have a right to lay a claim on it.

In the next paragraph, Mr. Tsao is actually defending the dignity of Filipino maids. He is condemning his fellow Chinese citizens for their lack of respect and appreciation for their maids who work long hours for them, and showing them what hypocrites they are for hating on the Philippines when in fact they rely so heavily on these upstanding Filipino citizens to keep their households running smoothly.

Then he actually points out that the Chinese are wrong to belittle Philippines given the fact that we have good ties with the USA. Finally, he ridicules the propaganda of his own government back in eh day.

So you see, everything he said here, what he really meant is the opposite. He’s just acting the part of the “racist Chinese patriot”. He is exposing how offensive and ridiculous his fellow citizens and his government are, and the fact that we got so angry proves his point: that how his fellow citizens and his government are behaving is very shameful.

Let’s not throw abuses at Mr. Tsao. He is on our side.”

tl:dr Mag isisp ka! Critical thinking skills won’t kill you.

All men are born equal, naked, without bonds. God did not create man to be a slave; nor did he endow him with intelligence to have him hoodwinked, or adorn him with reason to have him deceived by others.

Letter to the Young Women of Malolos, Dr. Jose Rizal

Sa aking paglalayag sa Dayuhang kontinente, sa dami ng mga Pilipinong aking nakasalamuha o nabalitaan, nakakalungkot isiping marami pa ring Pilipinong inaalipin ng mga banyaga. Pero ngayon, tayo na mismo ang dumadayo upang magpaalipin sa kanila. Parang sumama na sa hangin ang ipinaglaban ng mga bayaning Pilipino. Siguro sa hirap nga talaga ng buhay sa Pilipinas. Sino ba namang uunahin pa ang “Filipino pride” sa pagkita ng perang dayuhan na di hamak na malaki ang katumbas sa piso?!

From where I am at right now, taos puso po akong bumabati ng isang Maligayang Pasko sa inyong lahat.

Merry Christmas

May God Bless you all always.

Para sa inyo:

May today there be PEACE within.

May you trust your highest power that you are exactly where you are meant to be.

May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.

May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.

May you be content knowing you are a child of God.

Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, and bask in the sun. It is there for each and every one of you.

Maraming Salamat.

Entah mana silap aku update 5.50 OFW PSP aku

Damn it! Damn it!

Aku malas nak operate battery jadi pandora; malas mau order sebijik pandora battery dan magic memory stick. Nanti aku suruh itu apek kedai bagi bikin semula psp aku ni.

Ni ler padahnya kalau buat kerja time hujan… malam.. cuaca sejuk.. mata kuyu… main tekan next-next; tak baca sebab mata dah hampir katop. Sekali bila siap reboot, check system info… damn! aku sucessful update OFW psp… lah sudah; tepuk dahi pun tak guna. Terjah forum-forum pasal modding/hacking  psp; aku mau cari yang hack semula psp tanpa perlu pandora battery dan magic stick memory; so aku masuk satu forum mod psp ni, mintak tolong kalau ada cara tanpa perlu guna pandora battery dan magic memory stick walaupun aku tau langkah awal untuk hack dan install CFW bagi menggantikan OFW ialah dengan menggunakan pandora battery dan magic memory stick. Aku tanya dengan sopan… sekali sekor mod dia reply…

Good, I’m glad he’s back to OFW. I’m not helping him get back to CFW either since he pirates his games. Bai nao!

terus dia locked thread aku; Cilakak betul aku sumpah seranah mod tu; aku tanya dengan sopan tapi dia reply macam bajet dah handal tahap dewa bab hack/mod psp; bajet tak guna game pirates… fucker lah.. lu mod/hack psp tu bukan tujuannya mau main game pirates ke; ceh! nasib ler dia tak paham bahasa melayu aku. Kalau aku jumpa dia masuk teruja.com memang aku sepak dan ban terus jek.

Tak boleh jadi nih; kena sambar jugak pandora battery ngan magic memory stick. Apa la aku ni, jiwa hacker tapi takde tool la bagai… ianya umpama ada papan dan ada paku tapi takde penukul; mau hantuk guna kepala ke itu paku…

OFW = Original Firmware

CFW = Custom firmware

kalau lu orang update OFW bila mana psp lu orang dah memang sedia ada CFW; maka semua setting CFW tu akan kaput. Kalau nak update baca bebetul file apa yang lu orang download; jangan ikut cara aku terus download terus extract terus update… pap! sekali reboot update OFW… binawe.

Itu ajelah. Terkilan ni bhai kau tau tak; nak meleleh air mata ni bila tengok takde sebijik pun game pirates yang aku download tak leh lagi jalan ni.

Layan movie Revenge of the Fallen IMAX edition…. serius; kepada yang ngadu merengek kata revenge of the fallen tak cukup aksi gasak; aku rekemen lu orang download BDRiP IMAX edition.. perghh… puas bhai tengok aksi gasak robot terutama masa gasak dalam hutan tu.. ada part yang takde dalam cinema release yang biasa tapi dalam IMAX edition aku kira scene gasak tu cukup lengkap; begitu juga scene gasak di piramid; ada yang kata ” eh eleh sekejap jek lawan the fallen”, lu orang download BDRiP IMAX edition laa kalau BRAni…

Arghh.. cilakak; pergi cerita pasal transformers pulak… dah.. aku mau tido.

salud!

Hundreds of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) marched to Mendiola Bridge Friday to demand that the Arroyo government exhort all efforts to reunite more than 300 stranded OFWs with their families this Christmas season. “Today marks the ninth year of the United Nations Convention on Migrant Workers and Their Families. While President Arroyo signed this convention, in reality, the plight of Filipino migrant workers did not improve and in fact worsened under the government’s relentless labor export program. Nine years under the Arroyo regime saw the unprecedented rise in human rights violations of OFWs,” said Garry Martinez, Migrante International chairperson.

Migrante International’s records show that in almost all of the cases of stranded OFWs, Philippine consulate and overseas labor officials neglected the plight of OFWs, and were even the ones defending abusive employers and companies.

Read more at Radio 1812

I will feature in this blog my  3 personal choice  for Senator in the Philippine 2010 election. They  will surely  bring the voices of the OFWs in the Senate. 

***

Susan "Toots" Ople and the late Sen. Blas F. Ople

(1)   SUSAN “Toots”  OPLE ( 2010 Senatorial Candidate under Nationalista Party)

Susan’s Story: A Life Dedicated to Helping OFWs

At 47 years old, Susan “Toots” Ople has done more with her life than some people could imagine.

•    She served in the Senate in 1987 as a staff of Senator Ernesto Herrera. Her first job was as a researcher before she was promoted to media relations officer, mainly because of her excellent writing and networking skills.

•    In 1989, the Citizens’ DrugWatch Foundation was created with Herrera as president and Susan as executive director. The Foundation raised funds for the establishment of rehab facilities in Manila and other parts of the country. It also created awareness about the insidious effects of a drug known in the streets as “shabu”. Her work in the Citizens’ DrugWatch led her to author her first book entitled, “Hugs, Not Drugs.”

•    In 1992, her father, Blas F. Ople of Hagonoy, Bulacan was elected Senator.

•    From 1992 until 1998, Susan worked diligently beside and for her father, helping him write his speeches, organizing his press conferences, and pursuing his projects that even then included helping overseas Filipino workers.

•    From 1998 to 1999, Ople’s youngest daughter was accepted and studied at the Kennedy School of Government in Harvard University, Cambridge, Boston in Massachusetts. She wrote for the school’s magazine, was tapped to write case studies by her professors, cross-enrolled in a creative writing course at Massachusetts Institute for Technology (MIT) and spearheaded a petition to prod the school to level the playing field for international students. Susan Ople graduated with a master’s degree in Public Administration and was awarded the Josephine Vernon Award for Excellence in Communications.

•    Upon her return from the United States, her father once again sought her help and designated her as chief-of-staff.

•    Susan became a familiar face to media, as her father’s chief writer and media liaison officer. Soon enough, she too found herself writing a column for the now defunct Philippine Post. Thereafter, she was asked to write for Manila Chronicle and Manila Times.

•    All in all, Susan spent 16 years in the Senate.

•    When her father was designated Foreign Affairs Secretary, he brought Susan with him again as chief of staff. It was during her stint at the DFA that Susan became deeply involved in human trafficking and OFW cases. She was also publisher of the now-defunct “Diplomatic Post” which featured the work of career foreign service officers around the world.

•    Her father died with his proverbial boots on, while onboard a plane from Tokyo, Japan to Bahrain to prepare for the President’s state visit. Susan was waiting for him in Bahrain. He died mid-air, with the plane making an emergency landing in Taiwan. By then it was too late. He came home a hero, and was buried as such leaving behind an unparalleled legacy as a statesman, father of overseas employment, and father of the Philippine labor code.

•    In 2004, Susan Ople was designated by the President as Undersecretary of Labor and Employment.

•    It was during her time that the DoLE established a partnership with Microsoft for a computer literacy program for OFWs called, “Tulay”. Since 2004 until today, more than 14,000 Tulay scholars have crossed the digital divide as computer literate OFWs and workers. The oldest Tulay graduate is Buhay Tan, an 80-year old mother of five OFWs. She now uses Skype, Facebook,  and e-mail to communicate with her children and grandchildren.

•    Last year, thanks to a grant bestowed by Microsoft, Susan through the Blas F. Ople Center, was able to put up 10 new Tulay facilities in Koronadal City, Tacloban City, Tuguegarao City, Baguio City, San Fernando in Pampanga, Calamba City, Intramuros in Manila, Butuan City, Davao City and as well as in Bataan while adding 10 new computers to the Tulay Center in Hong Kong and putting up a new Tulay facility in Taipei.

•    Cognizant of her writing skills, the President requested her transfer from DoLE to the Office of Communications Director where Susan headed the presidential speechwriting group. When the OCD was abolished, Susan was taken in by Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita as his Undersecretary. She respectfully tendered her resignation to ES Ermita on January 2006 because she was not in favor of a hasty Charter change, the kind that the administration was pushing.

•    After her lengthy stint in government, Susan decided to continue her advocacy work in helping OFWs through the non-government organization that she founded in 2004, after her father’s death, known as the Blas F. Ople Policy Center. She thought of offering short courses such as “Foreign Affairs on Saturdays”, “On Writing Well” and “History for Grown-ups” to enable adult learners to expand their competencies while enjoying themselves.

•    She also worked as consultant and chief of staff to Senator Mar Roxas. She resigned in 2008 to focus full-time on the Tulay Program and the work of the Ople Center.

Toots Ople with Henry Omaga Diaz while hosting the Usapang OFW Presidential Forum co-presented by DZMM and the Ople Center.

In between all of these, Susan has written two books, numerous columns and articles, served as a bridge between the DFA/OP and families of hostage victims, Robert Tarongoy who was kidnapped in Iraq, and Angelito Nayan, who was held hostage in Afghanistan. She also served as a consultant to the International Labor Organization on women workers’ training on gender issues and labor rights.

- Susan was instrumental in the rescue of 17 women trafficked to Syria, 137 bus drivers illegally deployed to Dubai, and countless other victims exploited in Malaysia and the Middle East. With the help of the Ople Center, the bus drivers were able to file complaints against their recruitment agencies which led to the cancellation of 7 licenses and the suspension of five others. The Ople Center also spearheaded the filing of the very first human trafficking case against a Singaporean based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia who has victimized over a hundred Filipino women. The second hearing on this case will be on December 28, 2009. Meanwhile, the Ople Center has stepped up its advocacy against the use of Filipino women as drug mules by international drug rings. She has been able to help a Filipino woman recruited by a Nigerian syndicate to Lima, Peru by providing her with temporary shelter and assistance. As of today, the members of the syndicate have been arrested by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Administration (PDEA), with the help of the Filipino victim and the Ople Center.

-  Aside from inheriting her father’s love for the OFWs and labor, Susan also took over her father’s column in Panorama Magazine and Tempo. She is also the host of a weekly radio program called, “Global Pinoy”, on DWIZ 880 AM, every Saturday, from 5…..30 to 6.30 pm.

- Susan believes her biggest accomplishment to date is that of raising 24-year old Susanne Laurie Ople Osorio also known as Estelle. Estelle is a high school English teacher at Reedley International School in Pasig City and is a well-known debater and adjudicator.

Clearly, the Ople legacy lives on, in his daughter, Toots.

***

Give one slot of your Senate votes for jury advocate and OFWs leader

By TOTO CAUSING

Rudy "Naz" Nazaruddin Dianalan

IN their bid to make their neglected rights and welfare heard and get attention in the Congress, big groups of overseas Filipino workers have pushed for the candidacy of Rudy “Naz” Dianalan for the Senate.

Among those who push for his candidacy are the Partidong Pandaigdigang Pilipino (PPP) and Worldwide Filipino Alliance (WFA) members who scatter around the globe and who are actively participating in discussions of national and patriotic issues finding ways on how to be of help to their country.

The bone of contention why OFWs around the globe insist their voices be heard hinges on the fact that without them the Philippines would have already collapsed.

It is but fitting that these people who send annual remittances of $12 billion or an equivalent of P600 billion pesos, more than half of the national budget of the government.

With this, the migrant Filipino workers insist that they have their own candidates, and one of them is Dianalan. 

Rudy Dianalan is  a consistent first honor at Mindanao State University preparatory school and graduated highschool at Brent School in Baguio City. A cum laude graduate of  BS Systems Engineering from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia in 1978  and a candidate for Master in National Security Administration.

While a scholar at King Fahd University, Dianalan had been an eyewitness to the first influx of OFWs to the Middle East.

Dianalan’s records

Dianalan has dedicated most of his life in the work for the propagation of interests of Filipino migrant workers, particularly those in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

His primary advocacy is for the protection of OFWs from recruitment to worksite, welfare of their families left back home, strengthening ties of overseas Filipinos to the Philippines and their reintegration, and enhancing a global Filipino nation.

A convenor of the Global Filipino Nation forum, he rose to the leadership in various overseas Filipino community activities, exponent of OFW issues and programs, and author of different position papers and resolutions resulting from systems studies and political family background.

Among his works reflect from his being the chairman emeritus of KASAPI Congress, the alliance of Filipino community associations in Jeddah and the Western Region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, tripartite partner of umbrella organizations in the Central and Eastern regions.

Prior to his present status with KASAPI, he was the group’s co-chairman, Working Committee for Economic, Social, and Political Affairs (1996); chairman, Committee on Information (1997); chairman, Committee on Government Affairs (1998); chairman, Project Committee on Ten Outstanding Overseas Filipino Workers in Saudi Arabia (1999); secretary-general (1999); vice-chairman (2003); chairman (2004-2007).

He is currently a trustee and VP for Middle East and Africa of WFA, an internet-based NGO of overseas and homeland Filipinos; co-convenor, Global Filipino Nation, a broad-based coalition of Overseas Filipinos for good governance in the Philippines; co-chairman, International Coordinating Committee of PPP, a political party under organization by Overseas Filipinos; and a trustee, Order of the Knights of Rizal, Jeddah chapter and Middle East and Africa region.

He served as president of MAISA, Inc., (Malaig Association for Islamic & Social Advancement) a hometown association  of pioneer OFWs.  Malaig is in Lanao Del Sur.

Dianalan’s jury advocacy

Another advocacy of Dianalan is a common aspiration of OFWs who happened to work in countries where they witness and experience how the jury systems work effectively as a rigid system of justice that preclude tampering or manipulation by influential persons.

Fundamentally, jury systems can be called a system of justice where the people themselves directly exercise their power to adjudge who should be arrested, detained, charged or indicted, and who should be guilty.

Jury is rigid against influential persons because it keeps as secret the names and faces of its members chosen by raffle from the list of voters, to ensure that the rich and powerful accused will not know who to threaten and who to buy for favorable decisions.

Dianalan’s OFW agenda

For his candidacy, Dianalan set out the following platforms called “the OFW Agenda,” which are the: reintegration program for OFWs; strengthening of migrant workers’ laws; setting of necessary funds for OFWs; strengthening POEA to enable it to gain better employment packages for OFWs; and setting up investment platforms for all OFWs to ensure the monies they earn abroad would be preserved and get gains rather than diffuse to the realities of life.

In ensuring reintegration of OFWs effective, Dianalan will work for the passage of laws formulating programs responsive to the actual needs of the OFWs, which he can eloquently insist being an OFW himself. Here, he envisions establishments of massive skills training, re-employment and assistance to OFWs deciding to stay in the country, and capital facilities for OFW entrepreneurs.

On legal and related needs of OFWs having problems with non-payment of salaries, maltreatment by employers and other cases, Dianalan will work for the establishment of more funds for and stronger legal offices in every country where OFWs are found, setting up of institutional safehouses for distressed and runaway OFWs, creating system of immediate repatriation, and closer monitoring of cases of jailed Filipinos.

On welfare of OFWs, Dianalan will work for the establishment of effective system of transparency and accounting of OWWA funds, establishment of housing program for OFWs, setting of OFW investments for OFW hospitals, and creation of OFW-customized pension fund.

On strengthening of POEA, Dianalan will work for establishment of systems to ensure better protection of OFWs against contract substitution, reduction of salaries and benefits compared to the contracts and other illegal recruitment practices. These, he said, will be realized through compelling the State to have bilateral labor treaties with host countries. On this aspect, he also seeks to establish on-site PDOS through OFW NGOs to better prepare the OFWs against worksite realities and local factors.

On investments area, Dianalan will work for the creation of small-and-medium-scale industries for OFWs to invest in and strengthening similar program found in the existing provision of the Migrant Workers’ Act, or Rep. Act 8042.

This, he said, will be done by strengthening the tax exemption benefits and credits on raw materials to be used or imported, additional tax deductions on labor expenses, simplification of customs processing, additional exemptions from local government taxes and fees and increase of assistance from local governments, and consolidation of all OFW programs into a one-stop shop to make it easier for migrant workers to start businesses.

In establishing community resource center for OFWs, Dianalan seeks to establish self-sustaining multi-purpose facilities for them to engage in educational, cultural, recreational and other social activities to improve further their well being and generate higher respect for them.

This will include centers where each OFW will advance their skills and professional competency for them to become leaders in every Filipino community.

On establishing of “Global Filipino Nation,” Dianalan will work for the formulation of strategies for the government to better address the Filipino diaspora, institute synergistic and symbiotic relations between the Filipino communities abroad and the government, and creation of a program to actively promote the dignity of the OFWs in nationalism, patriotism and other positive values.

Rudy “Naz” Nazruddin Dianalan  is the grandson of  Mohammad Alawi Dimakuta, the former Provincial Governor of the undivided Lanao in 1950’s. Rudy Dianalan’s  father is  Attorney Sultan Omar Dianalan, the former Mayor of Marawi City (1967-1984) and Assemblyman and Congressman of the  1st District of Lanao del Sur (1984-1990).  – end

Fore more  see Rudy Dianalan profile : Fore more see Rudy Dianalan profile at  http://www.ofwsenator.monggos.com/profile.pdf

Sander is one of the million of Filipinos who got old working outside the Philippines, mainly because of the high salary wages which double or sometimes quadruple the local rate that he’s going to receive if he works locally. He’s already planning for his retirement and have been computing how much money he has to save more in order for his family to live a decent life. With his more than 2 decades of experience and as a senior engineer in the company that we are employed, it is possible that he will likely to reach his target retirement age.

I am a Filipino. I was born and raised in the Philippines. I am one of the few Filipinos who is still proud to be one, irregardless of what the present condition is.

I have been to different countries, both for business and leisure and in every country I visited I have always met a fellow Filipino.

There’s a Filipino manning a coffee shop in Piazza de San Marco in Venice, a Filipino couple strolling along Las Ramblas, a group of Filipinos on the train heading for Pietro de San Pedro in Rome, a bunch of Filipinos young and old, tourist and OFW (overseas Filipino workers) in the shopping district of Hong Kong, Singapore, China, etc. We Filipinos are all-over even in war-torn countries there is one Filipino or two.

And in my many encounters with my countrymen outside my dear Philippines I can’t help but feel sad, disappointed, and sometimes silently angry.

In more than one conversation, Filipinos never stop to complain about traffic. I fully understand how bad the traffic situation is in some parts of Metro Manila and even in developed provinces like Cebu, Davao, and Baguio it is actually so bad that we are getting live feed in the internet, hourly broadcast in the radio and as a matter of fact the actual traffic scenario is also included in the primetime news so as to give awareness to the people.

Anu ba kabayan? Even the least traveled person in the world I think knew how bad the traffic is in the Philippines, so please stop over emphasizing it. There is more nicer things in Philippines than traffic! Why not talk about that?

I have heard so many nasty things about Philippines, the sad part is it came from us, Filipinos.

Overheard from a fellow passenger in a flight from Dubai to Philippines, Filipina talking to a fellow Filipina, “Hay, dito na naman ako sa amoy isda na Pilipinas! (Sigh! Here I am again in the fish-stinking smell Philippines!”).

What? What is that again? Then why the hell are you still coming back? Why don’t you (whoever you are!) do your country a favor and forever exile yourself?

These are just two instances but it already shows some characters we Filipinos have. It’s sad, it’s true, and its irritating.

There’s are so many good things in the Philippines in spite of all the traffic, pollution, poverty, political craziness. Come on, Philippines is not all that bad, we’ve got great tourist destinations, go to Bohol, Cebu, Palawan, Boracay, travel up north by land, head for the beach, climb a mountain, drink beer while watching the sun sets, reevaluate yourselves and you’ll probably appreciate your country again. This is the only place that whatever you say against it will take you in freely, no questions asked. Hey, your passport says you’re a Filipino.

Be an ambassador for the Philippines. Let us do our share in improving our country please stop ranting and complaining as if Philippines owe you.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and the Commission on Elections have recenty inked a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to pilot test the automated voting of Filipino overseas absentee voters in Hong Kong and Singapore.

A total of 128, 272 Filipino voters in both countries are expected to cast their ballots in the first ever automated Philippine elections abroad. It is also said that the Philippine Government has set aside P40 million for the planned automated voting.

While the automation of the Filipino overseas vote is indeed a welcome development, I believe there are some questions that the COMELEC and the DFA should address:

The first thing Philippine election authorities should address is the question of HOW are they going to go about the automated balloting in the two OFW rich countries. They say that more than 128,000 Filipino voters in both countries are expected to participate; so if the automated counting machines (Precinct Count Optical Scan) can accomodate only 1,000 voters per precinct according to the COMELEC, does it mean the COMELEC will be deploying 128 PCOS machines in HK and Singapore?

Second, where does the government plan to set up those machines? Will they be placed only inside the Philippine Consulate or will they be scattered to different locations around HK and Singapore?

According to the COMELEC’s Calendar of Activities for the 2010 elections, overseas absentee voters will start casting their ballots starting April 10, 2010 until May 10, 2010. If they are going to automated the HK, Singapore vote, will the machines be deployed there for a period of one month?

What if a machine breaks down, will there be spare machines or will those be coming from the Philippines as well?

Lastly – and I think this is the most important – who are going to man the PCOS machines for the possible month long balloting? Will it be the Consulate officials? If so, are they trained and familiar with the technology?

The government should address this questions right away so as to forestall any apprehension of a possible wholesale disenfranchisement of thousands of voters in HK and Singapore.

These two countries have been consistently placed among the top 10 countries who have the highest number of registered Filipino overseas absentee voters. It would be unforgivable if their votes wouldn’t count in May 10, 2010.

Dhon is one of young Filipino Father who needs to work abroad in order for him to support his family’s financial need.

Mertz is our Database Engineer, IT whiz. I’m glad I’ve got to know him, we easily get along together since our childhood experience in the province is somehow similar. Everytime our coworkers got a problem on their PC’s and notebooks they know who’s the guy to call.

Al is my officemate who is from central Philippines, we always joke about his name that he is one of the Sheikh here in Qatar somehow related to Al Thani.

A coworker face illuminated by the morning sun while waiting for the bus to leave.

Ang inyong mababasa ay hindi ko sariling gawa, ito’y ibinahagi lamang sa akin ng aking isang malapit na kaibigan na ngayo’y nasa malayong lugar. Mag-ingat ka kaibigan at salamat dito.

Sa may asawa, kapatid, anak, kaibigan, at kamag-anak na OFW.
At lalo na sa mga gustong mangibang-bansa. ..
Nais ko rin ibahagi sa inyo, ang natanggap kong email na ito.
Maaaring makatulong ito upang lalong maintindihan ng bawa’t isa ang
tunay na ibig sabihin ng pagiging isang OFW. Tiyak na may mapupulot
tayong aral dito.Hindi mayaman ang OFW – We have this notion na ‘pag OFW o nasa abroad ay
mayaman na. Hindi totoo yun. A regular OFW might earn from P20K-P300K
per month depende sa lokasyon. Yung mga taga-Europe or US siguro ay mas
malaki ang sweldo, but to say that they’re rich is a fallacy (amen!). Malaki ang pangangailangan kaya karamihan ay nag-a-abroad. Maraming
bunganga ang kailangang pakainin kaya umaalis ang mga pipol sa
Philippines . Madalas, 3/4 o kalahati ng sweldo ay napupunta sa tuition
ng anak at gastusin ng pamilya. Mahirap maging OFW – Kailangan magtipid hangga’t kaya. Oo, masarap ang
pagkain sa abroad pero madalas na paksiw o adobo at itlog lang tinitira
para makaipon. Pagdating ng kinsenas o katapusan, ang unang tinitingnan
eh ang conversion ng peso sa dollar o rial o euro. Mas okay na magtiis
sa konti kaysa gutumin ang pamilya. Kapag umuuwi, kailangan may baon
kahit konti kasi maraming kamag-anak ang sumusundo sa airport o
naghihintay sa probinsya. Alam mo naman ‘pag Pinoy, yung tsismis na OFW
ka eh surely attracts a lot of kin.

Kapag hindi mo nabigyan ng pasalubong eh magtatampo na yun at sisiraan
ka na. Well, hindi naman lahat pero I’m sure sa mga OFW dito eh may mga
pangyayaring ganun. Magtatrabaho ka sa bansang iba ang tingin sa mga
Pinoy. Malamang marami ang naka-experience ng gulang o discrimination to
their various workplaces. Sige lang, tiis lang, iniiyak na lang kasi
kawawa naman pamilya ‘pag umuwi.

Besides, wala ka naman talagang maasahang trabaho sa Philippines ngayon.
Mahal ang bigas, ang gatas, ang sardinas, ang upa sa apartment. Tiis
lang kahit maraming kupal sa trabaho, kahit may sakit at walang
nag-aalaga, kahit hindi masarap ang tsibog, kahit pangit ang working
conditions, kahit delikado, kahit mahirap. Kapag nakapadala ka na, okay
na, tawag lang, “hello! kumusta na kayo?”.

Hindi bato ang OFW – Tao rin ang OFW, hindi money o cash machine.
Napapagod rin, nalulungkot (madalas), nagkakasakit, nag-iisip at
nagugutom. Kailangan din ang suporta, kundi man physically, emotionally
o spiritually man lang.

Tumatanda rin ang OFW – Sa mga nakausap at nakita ko, marami ang panot
at kalbo na. Most of them have signs and symptoms of hypertension,
coronary artery disease and arthritis.. Yet, they continue to work
thinking about the family they left behind. Marami ang nasa abroad,
20-30 years na, pero wala pa ring ipon. Kahit anong pakahirap, sablay pa
rin. Masakit pa kung olats rin ang sinusuportahang pamilya – ang anak
adik o nabuntis; ang asawa may kabit. Naalala ko tuloy ang sikat na
kanta dati, “NAPAKASAKIT KUYA EDDIE!”

Bayani ang OFW – Totoo yun! Ngayon ko lang na na-realize na bayani ang
OFW sa maraming bagay. Hindi bayani na tulad ni Nora Aunor o Flor
Contemplacion. Bayani in the truest sense of the word. Hindi katulad ni
Rizal o Bonifacio. Mas higit pa dun, mas maraming giyera at gulo ang
pinapasok ng OFW para lang mabuhay. Mas maraming pulitika ang kailangang
suungin para lang tumagal sa trabaho lalo na’t kupal ang mga kasama sa
trabaho. Mas mahaba ang pasensya kaysa sa mga ordinaryong kongresista o
senador sa Philippines dahil sa takot na mawalan ng sweldo.

Matindi ang OFW – Matindi ang pinoy. Matindi pa sa daga, o cockroaches
which survived the cataclysmic evolution. Maraming sakripisyo pero
walang makitang tangible solutions or consequences.

Malas ng OFW, swerte ng pulitiko – Hindi umuupo ang OFW para magbigay ng
autograph o interbyuhin ng media (unless nakidnap!). Madalas nasa
sidelines lang ang OFW. Kapag umaalis, malungkot and on the verge of
tears. Kapag dumadating, swerte ‘pag may sundo( madalas meron). Kapag
naubos na ang ipon, wala ng kamag-anak.

Sana sikat ang OFW para may boses sa Kamara. Ang swerte ng mga politiko
nakaupo sila at ginagastusan ng pera ng Filipino. Hindi nga sila
naiinitan o napapaso ng langis, o napagagalitan ng amo, o kumakain ng
paksiw para makatipid, o nakatira sa compound with conditions less than
favorable, o nakikisama sa ibang lahi para mabuhay. Ang swerte, sobrang
swerte nila.

Matatag ang OFW – Matatag ang OFW, mas matatag pa sa sundalo o kung ano
pang grupo na alam nyo. Magaling sa reverse psychology, negotiations at
counter-attacks. Tatagal ba ang OFW? Tatagal pa kasi hindi pa natin alam
kailan magbabago ang Philippines , kailan nga kaya? o may tsansa pa ba?

Masarap isipin na kasama mo ang pamilya mo araw-araw. Nakikita mo mga
anak mong lumalaki at naaalagaan ng maayos. Masarap kumain ng sitaw, ng
bagoong, lechon, inihaw na isda, taba ng talangka. Masarap manood ng
pelikulang Pinoy, luma man o bago. Iba pa rin ang pakiramdam kung kilala
mo ang kapitbahay mo. Iba pa rin sa Philippines , iba pa rin kapag Pinoy
ang kasama mo (except ‘pag kupal at utak-talangka) , iba pa rin ‘pag
nagkukwento ka at naiintindihan ng iba ang sinasabi mo. Iba pa rin ang
tunog ng “mahal kita!”, “day, ginahigugma tika.” “Mingaw na ko nimo ba,
kalagot!”, ” Inday, diin ka na subong haw? ganahan guid ko simo ba”.. Iba
pa rin talaga.

Sige lang, tiis lang, saan ba’t darating din ang pag-asa.

Kung OFW ka at binabasa mo ito, mabuhay ka dahil ikaw ang tunay na BAYANI ng lahing PILIPINO!!!

thanks for sharing this kumpadre Eric Dave M.

While government remains optimistic that remittances and Christmas spending will help pick up the economy after weak third quarter growth, research group IBON said there is no reason to be certain that the economy is going to achieve its projected full-year growth rate of as much as 1.8 percent.

According to IBON research head Sonny Africa, it is unlikely that fourth quarter remittances will be markedly higher than in previous quarters because of a supposed upsurge in Christmas-related inflows. In the last fourteen years, the fourth quarter recorded the highest overseas Filipino workers (OFW) remittances in only six years (1997, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2006 and 2007) and actually even had the lowest remittances in four years (1996, 1999, 2000 and 2002).

Whole-year growth prospects are further diminished by the lack of recovery in export-oriented manufacturing due to sluggish global growth and the impact of recent typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng on agriculture performance, Africa said.

He added that while remittances as a whole might still pick up in the fourth quarter, it could still be that individual OFW households are receiving less, where the sheer number of OFWs abroad makes up for diminishing average incomes.

Africa stressed that amid the global economic crisis, relying on overseas remittances to boost private consumption is problematic. Remittance growth has been drastically slowing and the 4.2% growth in remittances reported by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) in the first three quarters of 2009, reaching US$12.8 billion so far, is actually less than a third of the 17.1% growth rate in the same period last year and the slowest in eight years. Compensation inflows in the NIA, which reflect OFW incomes, likewise slowed to 19.3% growth in the third quarter from 22.3% growth in the same period last year.

That drastic slowdown in remittance growth is despite how the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) reports a 40.3% growth in OFW deployments in the first quarter of 2009, to 397,626 land-based and sea-based workers, from the first quarter last year. Taken together, increasing deployments yet lagging remittance growth could indicate falling average OFW incomes and correspondingly deteriorating welfare of OFWs and their families here in the country.

The slow economic growth exposes the limits of relying on overseas remittances to fuel growth, said Africa. More importantly, it underscores the urgency to put an end to government’s policies that overly rely on unsustainable sources of growth like OFW remittances.